Hearst-Argyle Television and Google Strike Reseller Agreement

Hearst-Argyle First Television Reseller of Google AdWords

    NEW YORK, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In an effort to target the
 growing local search advertising market, Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.
 ( HTV) today announced a new strategic agreement with Google in which
 Hearst-Argyle will become the first television industry reseller of the
 Google AdWords(TM) advertising program.
 
     Under the agreement, Hearst-Argyle, operator of 29 TV stations and more
 than 30 Websites, will become an official reseller and will use its Web
 sales force to provide marketers in its 26 local markets access to Google
 AdWords. AdWords is an online advertising platform designed to help small
 and medium- sized businesses use the Web to find new customers by
 delivering relevant ads when users search for specific products and
 services.
 
     "This is a terrific partnership to expand the digital suite of
 solutions we provide our advertisers," said Terry Mackin, Executive Vice
 President of Hearst-Argyle Television. "This entry point to the local
 search market complements our existing digital media efforts which include
 local content, social networking, and being a primary destination in all
 our markets on 'all three screens'."
 
     "Our new collaboration will build on the trusted relationships that
 Hearst-Argyle has already established by selling local television and Web
 advertising," said Eric Stein, director of local markets at Google. "Now,
 local marketers will also have access to an additionally efficient and
 cost- effective way to reach customers on the Internet and help drive their
 continued success online."
 
     Boston, MA-based research firm Yankee Group recently projected that
 local search and Internet ad spending will grow from $1.9 billion this year
 to $9.3 billion in 2010. According to research by New York-based Access
 Markets International (AMI) Partners, Inc., more than 50% of U.S. small
 businesses believe they can use the Internet for sales, marketing and
 customer support.
 
     Today's announcement represents an expansion of Hearst-Argyle's
 relationship with Google. In June 2007, Hearst-Argyle became the first
 independent TV station group owner to establish a content- and
 revenue-sharing arrangement with YouTube(TM). To date, Hearst-Argyle has
 launched 26 YouTube Channels populated with news, weather, sports and
 entertainment videos as well as with original, local television programming
 and content from its recently launched social-networking site High School
 Playbook (www.HighSchoolPlaybook.com).
 
     Hearst-Argyle's digital multimedia efforts encompass the Web and the
 digital broadcast spectrum. A majority of the Websites operated by Hearst-
 Argyle stations are consistently ranked No. 1 within their respective
 markets. Generating in excess of 1.5 billion page views each year across
 the network, the sites are at the leading edge in providing wireless
 application protocol (WAP) content, podcasts, web-based newscasts, web
 video, and blogs in a broad cross-section of markets. Several Hearst-Argyle
 stations have used digital spectrum to launch weather and/or traffic
 information channels.
 
     AdWords is a cost effective, efficient way for businesses of all sizes
 to advertise their products and services at exactly the time their
 customers are looking for them. Businesses can select and bid on keywords
 related to what they are selling and pay only when an interested user
 clicks on their ad. Advanced targeting options, customizable ads, and
 detailed reporting enable advertisers to evaluate the benefits and
 performance of their cost-per-click advertising efforts. More information
 is available at www.adwords.google.com.
 
     About Hearst-Argyle
 
     Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. owns 26 television stations, and manages
 an additional three television and two radio stations, in geographically
 diverse U.S. markets. The Company's television stations reach approximately
 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America's largest television
 station groups. Hearst-Argyle owns 12 ABC-affiliated stations, and manages
 an additional ABC station owned by Hearst Corporation, and is the largest
 ABC affiliate group. The Company also owns 10 NBC affiliates, and is the
 second- largest NBC affiliate owner, and owns two CBS affiliates.
 Hearst-Argyle also is a leader in the convergence of local broadcast
 television and the Internet through its partnership with Internet
 Broadcasting (http://www.ibsys.com) and in the application of digital
 broadcast spectrum for new local informational services through its Weather
 Plus partnership with NBC and various NBC affiliate groups. Hearst-Argyle
 Series A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
 symbol "HTV." The Company's Web address is www.hearstargyle.com.
 
     Google, AdWords, and YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. in the
 United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of
 their respective owners.
 
 
 

SOURCE Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.